Well if it’s not one thing, it’s another.
Variety today is reporting that 12 Years A Slave star Lupita Nyong’o has dropped out of attending the Italian premiere of the film, due to the recent controversy over
the Italian posters that emphasizes the white co-stars – Brad Pitt and Michael Fassbender – over the lead actor of the film Chiwetel Ejiofor.
However, in the same Variety piece, it also stated
that “No reason was given” for
Nyong’o cancellation, which was scheduled for today at the film’s premiere, at the 18th annual Capri Hollywood Film Festival, which sounds like the publication is hedging
its bets just in case there was another reason entirely.
So was it about the posters or some other reason?
As I reported earlier this week, both Lionsgate/Summit and Italian distributor BIM Distribuzine, have issued statements apologizing
for the posters, saying that they “were unauthorized and were not approved by any of
the producers or licensors of the film,” and they will be removed from
theaters, if they haven’t been already.
However Mandela: A Long Walk to Freedom and Captain Phillips will be screened at the festival, with the stars/co-stars of each film, Idris
Elba and Naomie Harris, as well as actor Barkhad Abdi, respectively,
Lee
Daniels’ The Butler is also scheduled to be screened at the
festival, but without Daniels nor any of the cast members present; although that
could change.
